Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I want to begin by commending Deputy McConologue for bringing forward this very important motion. As we all know, the suckler sector is in crisis and is now referred to as the poor relation in Irish agriculture. It is a sad day when we see that happening. That has happened because of the lack of intervention, lack of political will and lack of support for the sector. Hopefully, that will change, and we are all here tonight to say that it has to change. These family farms need adequate supports. They are adding to our economy. They are playing a very important role in our country, and it has to change.

As we all know, the prospect of Ireland maintaining a viable suckler farming sector is diminishing. More and more marts host suckler dispersal sales. While nationally there has been a 6% decline in herd size since the abolition of milk quotas, some counties have experienced  greater losses. As an increasing number of farmers liquidate their stocks to finance a switch to dairy, there is a concern that, without intervention, our quality beef production industry may come under serious threat.

Despite the myth, beef from the dairy industry will not salvage the red meat sector. With dairy cows now producing 50% more milk than 30 years ago, sucklers are not being replaced in the milk sector by the same number of cows. It is clear that beyond 2020, the Common Agricultural Policy must include measures which allow for a degree of re-coupling which, in essence, means the reintroduction of headage payments for sucklers. Given that the value of the Irish beef export market is calculated at €2.5 billion and that the United Kingdom is the largest importer, there is merit in developing an intervention which seeks to mitigate the anticipated impact of Brexit on sales. The phased introduction of a payment to reach the proposed threshold of €200 direct support for these farmers would bring the subsidy in line with that currently being paid to French farmers.

Whether the current exodus from the beef market and transition into dairy is short-term or long-term remains to be seen, but what is evident is that sustaining the sector at this time and alleviating the hardship on small farmers is unattainable without a headage payment.

Ten thousand jobs are created by the beef sector, which means that any major decline in the industry will be detrimental for the people involved who depend on it. The Irish Farmers Journalrecently reported that there has been a €177 per head drop in the level of funding for sucker farmers in the past decade. That is seen as the main reason for the current decline in the numbers engaged in the sector.

The annual incomes for suckler farmers average as low as €12,908. That is a fact. That fact clearly indicates that this sector is in deep crisis and that support and action from Government are urgently required. I call on the Minister to do just that.

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